What is Numerology?

Numbers hold value, both numerical and spiritual. Numerology, in its simplest terms, is the relationship between a number and its mystical nature on both an individual and worldly level. Numerology is also the study of the numerical value of the alphabet.

To fully grasp the language of sacred numbers, it is not only necessary to understand the history of numerology and how it affects our personality, a deep dive is also required in all its different manifestations, which are: numerology portrait, birth numerology (birthday number, life path number, attitude number), and name numerology (soul urge, personality number, power number).

History of Numerology

While the actual word numerology wasn't recorded in English until 1907, numerological ideas have been around for centuries. Some of the earliest records of numerology appeared in ancient Egypt and Babylon along with China, Rome, Japan, and Greece. However, it was the Greek philosopher Pythagoras who became the father of numerology.

Pythagoras was hailed in his day for being a brilliant philosopher and mathematician. While much of Pythagoras' life is shrouded in mystery, his fascination with numbers is well-documented; the passion led him to travel to Egypt to study Chaldean numerology for twenty-two years. Pythagoras believed that the world was built on the power of numbers and that everything and anything could be translated to numerical form, usually in single digits. The idea of assigning letters numerical values is known as the Pythagorean Number System and is used in modern numerology.

The significances of numbers can also be seen in religion: 666 is associated with the beast, 888 is said to represent Jesus, and then there's the Holy Trinity. Hanukkah lasts for eight nights. In Tarot, each card is numbered, and those numbers have unique meanings. In Chinese tradition, the number four is associated with bad luck.

We still use this system of numerology in an attempt to discover the hidden meanings of the world—some even use it to play the stock market. However, most employ numerology similarly to astrology—for self-discovery and prediction.

What Is a Numerology Portrait?

Similar to an astrological natal chart, a numerology portrait is your personalized guide to life. It reveals your strengths, weaknesses, and who you could become. Think of it as a mystic cheat-sheet. Unlike a natal chart, which uses the exact time, place, and day of birth to accurately calculate your portrait, numerology skews a bit more simple. A numerology portrait—also known as numerology chart—consists of only six numbers: three numbers calculated from your actual date of birth (your birth number, life path number, and attitude number), and three numbers pulled from the letters of your name (your soul's urge, personality number, and power number).

While each of these numbers and positions has special meanings, the most important number in your portrait will be your life path number. To calculate your life path number, add every single number of your birthday—day, month, and year of birth—into a single digit. This number is important because it describes the path you must take in order to find fulfillment in life. It describes who you are at your core, and who you might become if you live your full potential—similar to your sun sign in astrology.

There are six important numbers in your numerology portrait or numerology chart. They are your:

Soul's urge Inner desires, what makes your soul happy.

Personality number The aspects of your character that you show to others.

Power number The strengths of your character.

Birthday number How others see you at first glance.

Life path number The path you must take in life; your identity and the core of who you are.

Attitude number Attitude toward life.

As an example, let's say we wanted to do the numerology chart of Frida Kahlo by using her name and birthday:

Frida Kahlo

7/6/1907

1. Soul's Urge

To get her soul's urge, we would add up all the vowels of her name (read more about we turn letters into numbers in name numerology). Iaao would equal to 9+1+1+6=17, 1+7=8. Frida's soul number is 8.

2. Personality Number

To get her personality number, we would add up all the consonants in her name. Frdkhl would equal 6+9+4+2+8+3=32, 3+2=5. Frida's personality number is 5.

3. Power Number

To get her power number, we would add her soul urge and personality number. 8+5=13, 1+3=4. Frida's power number is 4.

4. Birthday Number

To get her birthday number, we would look at the day Frida was born, July 6, so Frida's birthday number would be 6.

5. Path Number

To get her life path number, we would add her whole birthday up. July 6, 1907 would be 7+6+1+9+0+7=30, 3+0=3, Frida's life path number is 3.

6. Attitude Number

To get her attitude number, we would add up her birthday month and day. Frida was born on July 6, 7+6=13, 1+3=4. Frida's attitude number is 4.

Overall, Frida Kahlo's numerology portrait is: 85463/4.

So, What Kind of Math Am I Doing?

Despite all this talk of numbers and Pythagoras, numerology is fairly simple. In fact, all of the math required can be done on a calculator—or even using your fingers. Modern numerology uses natural, or fadic, addition to calculate numbers; this means that all values will be added until a single number is reached. For example, if the numbers of your birth date add up to 36, the next step is to add 3 and 6 together, for a total of 9. That would be your number.

Here is a quick guide of the energies associated with your core numbers one through nine:

One

Leadership, innovation, independence.

Two

Sensitivity, cooperation, balance.

Three

Sharm, optimism, self-expression.

Four

Organization, honesty, hard work.

Five

Adventure, change, freedom.

Six

Responsibility, harmony, the "parent" figure.

Seven

Learning, observation, introverted.

Eight

Success, authority, strength.

Nine

Idealism, compassion, healing.

There are also master numbers—11, 22, 33—that show up in life path numbers, but we'll get to those later. If you come across a master number in any position that is not the life path number, reduce it down to a single number—but keep in mind you that you'll feel a powerful vibration of that number in whatever position it's in.

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